MANISTIQUE – Limestone Financial Credit Union recently hosted two financial reality fairs, with support from the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, for middle and high school students at Manistique Middle and High School.

This event provided middle school students in grades 7-8 and high school students in grades 11-12 with a hands-on opportunity to navigate real-world financial decisions at an early age. A total of 103 middle school students and 106 high school students participated in this interactive event, designed to teach budgeting, smart spending habits, and the importance of financial literacy.

During both fairs, students stepped into the role of working professionals, selecting careers and managing monthly expenses including housing, transportation, groceries, entertainment, and more. Each fair was tailored to the appropriate grade levels, middle school (grades 7-8) and high school (grades 11-12). The goal was to create a balanced budget while navigating unexpected financial challenges that mirror real-life financial responsibilities.